Toy



wmf. 25, w24.

J. J. DILKS TOY original Filed April 26 4. 1921 2 sheets-snee'.

INVENTOR omcof Arms New, 25, 1924.

J. J. DILKS TOY Original Filed April 264 1.921 2 Sheetshee'.. 2

. most lifelike.

Patented Non. 25, i924.

JACOB JAMES IJILKS, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOY.

Application filed April 26, 192]., Serial No. 464,680.

To all whom t may concer/lt.'

Be it known that l, Jason JAMES DILKs, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Toys, olf which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to toys or' that class which are representations or a human fig ure so constructed that the mouth appears to open and close as though the ligure were spealringor singing. The object oi' my invention is to construct toy ol' the character speciied in such a way that it will be simple in nature, easy to operate and the appearance oit speaking or singing will be This object l accomplish in the manner hereinafter set l'orth, reference being had to. the accompanying drawings in which l illustrate my invention as adapted to a toy theatre, for which use .it is especially applicable and which is its preferred, though not its only, use. In the drawings,

Fig. l is a face view of a toy threatre so constructed that it embodies my invention; f

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on th line SH3, Figs. l and 2;

Fig. 4 is a tace view, on a, larger scale, `of a certain element of the construction;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view showing thc face of one of the ligures and illustrating the mouth as closed, and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but illustrating the mouth as open as though the ligure were speaking or singing.

Briefly stated my invention consists roadly in constructing a figure with an aperture at the mouth and in mounting behind such aperture a slide on which appears a representation of the lower lip and upper teeth. This slide is to be so manip ulated in respect to the aperture that the mouth will appear to open and close. Specifically my invention consists in the manner in which the slide is mounted and operated.

Referring to F ig. l of the drawings, there is illustrated a toy theatre having' proscenium arch l, stage 2 and back drop 4. Upon this back drop 4, which, in the present instance, consists of a thin plate, appear the representations of four human figures as shown in dotted outline A, B, C and D. rlhese figures may be printed directly upon the plate 4 or may be sep- Renewed November 24, 1923.

arately constructed and pasted or otherwise secured thereto.

At the mouth ol each ligure there is an aperture 5 in the plate 4 and behind each aperture is a slide 6 so mounted that it may be moved up and down, see Fig. 2. Upon each slide appears a representationV or' a lower lip and upper teeth as best shown in Fig. 4, this representation being so positioned upon the slide and in respect to the corresponding aperture that the normal appearance ,of the face of the ligure is as shown in Fig. 5, with the mouth closed. Downward movement of the slide 6, how ever, alters the relation of the representation of the lip and teeth in respect to the aperture so that the mouth or the ligure appears to be open as shown in Fig. 6. Vertical reciprocation of the slide will, therefore, give the eiect of opening and closing of the mouth as though the ligure were speaking or singing.

As an example of use ifor a toy theatre as illustrated l will say that it may be placed upon a table or other suitable support and in front of a phonograph. lts the record is played by the phonograph the various slides may be manipulated to the mouths of the ditlerent ligures to open and close as though they were singing. Effects may be given of solos, duets, trios and quartettes. On the other handthe theatre may be used alone, the person or persons operating it speaking the lines which the figures lappear to utter.

The manner in which the various slides 6 may be readily and easily manipulated is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Pivotally mounted upon the rear face of the plate 4 are a series of levers 7, each of which is attached to a corresponding slide 6 by means of a oord or wire 8 and each of which terminates in a handle 9 extending outwardly beyond the edge of the plate 4 where it may be con veniently grasped. Each slide 6 is normally maintained in its extreme raised position by the action of a suitable spring 10 to which it is secured and while the slide is in this position the mouth of the corresponding ligure appears to be closed. To give the appearance of opening of the mouth the proper handle 9 is grasped and depressed whereupon the lever 7 swings downwardly drawing the slide 6 with it. As soon as the handle is released the spring l0 restores the slide to normal position and the mouth appears to close.V Upward movementl of the slides 6 may be properly restricted in any desired manner. ln the construction illustrated this restriction is eilfected by the contact of a flange ron the slide with a bar 11 which is under the influence of suitable springs 12 and which is maintained in proper horizontal position by contact With appropriate stop pins 13 which project `from ,11, l provide a supplementary lever 14 y which terminates in a handle 15 and Which isconnected to the bar 11 by means of a cord or Wire 1G.

lllhen it is desiredto cause the mouth of any ligure to appear to open and close1lnanipulation oi thekproper handle 9 Will accomplish the result and When it is desired v to have the mouths of all oiE the ligures appear to openand close in vunison it may best be accomplished Y by manipulation of the handle 15.

n Although I show, in the drawings, representations of four figures itis to be understood that this is in no sense a limitation as my invention applies equally Well tov'one or any number ot ligures which it may be desiredfto employ,.and it must also be understood that the illustration of the toy theatre is merely one use to which my invention may be put.k Figures constructed and `operated as herein described may occurY in any desired and convenient environment.

I claim: f

1.l In a device ot the character stated a toy theatre including an arch, stage and an apertured back drop, a life-like figure delineated upon said backdrop the lmouth 'of which ligure is in register With Vthe back drop aperture, axvertically movable-spring controlled slide having delineated thereon n'iouth portions ci a human figure normally in register with and to the rear of the back drop aperture and a manually operable lever connected to said slide for causing the delineated mouth portions of the latter to recede from before the back drop aperture.

2. ln-a device or the character stated a toy theatre including an arch, stage and an apertured back drop, a life-like .ligure delineated upon said back drop the mouth oi which ligure is in register with the back drop aperture, a vertically movable spring controlled slide having delineated thereon mouth portions of a human figure no'rn'ially in register with and to the rear olf the back drop aperture and a manually operable lever connected to said slide for causing the delineated mouth portions ci the latter to recede from before the back drop aperture, and manually operable spring controller means operatively connected with said slide for moving the latter independently of said lever.

3. In a. device of the character stated a toy theatre including an arch, stage and `back drop having a plurality of apertures therethrough, a plurality of life-like ligures delineated upon said back drop the mouth kofeach ligure being in register with the back drop aperture, a plurality oi vertically movable spring controlled slides each having delineated thereon mouth portions oli life-like iigures normally in register lwith and to the rear oi the back drop apertures, a plurality oi! manually operable levers connected to said slides ior causing independent movement thereof and manually operable, spring controlled means operatively connected with all ol' said sli-des tor causing simultaneous movement thereof.

In testimony whereof' I have signed my name to this specilication, in the preseiice oi a subscribing Witness.

JACOB JAMES DLKS. ldlitness:

Yi/VILLIAM M. HENRY. 

